[REQ] Reduce the size of the flags

[LukeFF]

This was something that was talked about in the days before the game was released, but it's fallen by the wayside since then. In short, the flags are too big, compared to what was used during the war. Look at these pictures below, and then compare them to the ones in game:







So, is this something that can be modded?

[DivingDuck]

Moin,

if they used the same approach as they did for SHIII flag animation it can be done. I´ve discovered how to do when trying to create a new SHIII flag animation. I´ll have a look and keep you advised. But don´t expect me to do it fast.

Regards,
DD

[AVGWarhawk]

I don't know if they are to big or not. Your last picture, look at the size of the flag compared to the man standing by the pole holding the flag. Looks like very large to me. Looks like the width of the flag top to bottom is twice his size. Lets just say this man is 4 1/2 feet. The flag would be around 10 feet wide and 12 feet long. That is a big flag!

[LukeFF]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

I don't know if they are to big or not. Your last picture, look at the size of the flag compared to the man standing by the pole holding the flag. Looks like very large to me. Looks like the width of the flag top to bottom is twice his size. Lets just say this man is 4 1/2 feet. The flag would be around 10 feet wide and 12 feet long. That is a big flag!

Yes, it is very large, but the other two are more of the size I am looking for. I just think it'd be good to have more of a medium-sized flag based on the size shown in those first two.

[Bando]

These are nice pictures. I think the reason for some flags on the picture being big is they were at or near shore. On the back of the ship is the shore position. When sailing they'd lower the shore flag and at the same time raise the sea flag. The sea flag is what we see in the game, and it's too big, I agree with that.

Regards
Bando

[Hunter]

There is no doudt that stock flags are extremely large.

[tater]

PUNT!

Wonder if this is something we can figure out. With all the amazing visual improvements over stock we now have because of modders, the flags stand out even more. They are bright and clean, they are HUGE, etc.

tater

[JimRat]

I agree, the stock flags on ships are definitely too large, especially for the merchant ships. Just going by todays practice most merchants use relatively small National Ensigns and they are definitely not in the best shape, (i.e. Dirty). Even Naval vessels would normally use a smaller Ensign. Something could be said for Naval Units flying "Battle" Ensigns, but that would for sure not be normal everyday practice. Making the Ensigns smaller would also contibute to Sub Skipper's ship recognition skills being enhanced as you wouldn't be able to tell what nationality a ship was from 6 miles away by the big white flag flying from it. Instead attention would have to be paid to the ship's mast configuration, superstructure, and possibly arrangement of turrets in the case of warships.

Just as an aside, is there any way to change the positions of the Ensigns whilst the vessels are underway? In port Naval Ensigns are flown from the Stern, whilst a "Jack Flag" would be flown from the Jackstaff at the Bow. While underway though the Naval Ensign would normally be flown from the Gaff Staff which is usually located on the mainmast not the foremast, (for ships which have more than one mast). I've noticed several of the IJN vessels flying the Ensigns from the flagstaff at the stern while underway.

By the way in the third picture above, the Flag flying from the mainmast is a "command flag", I believe some sort of Admiral's "pennant", or possibly a "Fleet" designator of some sort(?).

One other thing I was just reminded of while thinking along these lines...Is there any way that the Jackstaff and the Flagstaff on the submarines could be taken down while underway? In normal practice they are either folded down onto the deck, or removed entirely while underway. They are an obstruction and in the interest of realism would look better if gone underway. I would do this myself however I have the programming skills of Fred Flintstone.

[moscowexile]

Yes, they're way too large, especially on the merchantmen. British merchant vessels flew the Red Ensign at the sternrail and the House Flag from the mainmast. Royal navy practice in battle was, I believe, to hoist three White Ensigns on separate halliards lest one of them be shot away, which event, if only one ensign were hoisted, would possibly be taken by the enemy as the striking of one's colours. I'm sure the US Navy followed the same custom. I've just encountered a Japanese convoy for the first time after having metamorphosed from a Leutnant zur See in the Kriegsmarine into a US Navy submarine commander and was very surprised at the size of the Japanese flags in what are otherwise excellent mods. (I'm using TMO and RSRD on 1.4.). I entered a search for a flag reduction mod and ended up here almost one year after the previous mailing on this topic was posted.